After their return to Kabul in August 2021, the Taliban leadership have worked hard at consolidating its movement and developing new forms of governance. The structure it inherited from the preceding Republican government is still in place, but not necessarily with the same functions. Power is concentrated around the Emir’s office in Kandahar, key positions are filled by those with solid Taliban credentials, the court system is renewed (in compliance with the Taliban’s understanding of Sharia), and new institutions are being created across multiple levels.
The Taliban’s approaches to governance are evolving and far from all of their initiatives work out. Yet, working in Afghanistan under Taliban rule presumes a solid understanding of their organization and how they have sought to design governance.
This seminar will zoom in on how the Taliban has evolved over its first three years back in power, and discuss the possible implications of its current state for the engagement strategies pursued by Afghan citizens (in-country or in the diaspora), NGOs, multilateral organization and states both in the neighborhood and further afield.
Speakers
- Arne Strand, Senior Researcher and PhD in Post-war Recovery Studies
- Fatima Gailani, women's rights activist and a political leader of Afghanistan
- Graeme Smith, Senior Analyst for the International Crisis Group
The panel will be moderated by Kristian Berg Harpviken, Research Professor at PRIO
From the left: Arne Strand, Graeme Smith, Fatima Smith and Kristian Berg Harpviken. Photo: Nansen Fredssenter / Henrik Jarholm
